A Clergy Abuse Survivor’s Story: Taking a Stand & Overcoming Trauma
Recovery from sexual abuse as a child can take a lifetime. Greg D’Alessandro is a powerful example of both the devastating impact of clergy abuse and the resilience it takes to rebuild one’s life. His story serves as a beacon of hope for others navigating similar experiences.
Many survivors of clergy abuse never get the opportunity to speak out or seek justice. At White Law PLLC, we are committed to amplifying the voices of survivors and providing the legal advocacy necessary to hold abusers accountable. Our Michigan clergy sex abuse lawyer is here to listen to your story and provide legal representation in your journey to healing.
The Story of Greg D’Alessandro
White Law PLLC has had the honor of representing Greg D’Alessandro in the matter of his sexual abuse at the hands of the Catholic Church. His story begins with the profound betrayal he experienced as a child, when two priests sexually abused him on multiple occasions from fourth through eighth grade. These assaults occurred at St. Joseph School in Lake Orion and during a Catholic Youth Conference in Detroit.
Like many survivors, Greg remained silent for years. His abusers manipulated him into believing that breaking his silence would bring “spiritual and social doom.” They instilled fear of eternal damnation and weaponized societal stigma, telling him that he would go to hell and people would question his sexual orientation if he said anything.
If you or someone you know
endured clergy sex abuse,
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The Cost of Silence
Although Greg’s silence protected him in the short term, it came at an immense cost to his physical and mental health.
In the years after his abuse, Greg was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, believed to be a physical manifestation of his trauma. He was hospitalized twice in 1992 and says it was around this time that he shut out the memories of the sexual abuse he endured. He continued this way for more than 20 years, while focusing on building an exceptional career and family.
However, the cost of silence became unbearable as memories of the abuse resurfaced. After unsuccessfully attempting to suppress his past, Greg started the admirable and difficult work of processing his experiences. He spent hundreds of hours in therapy trying to piece together what happened.
Greg was often uncertain of whether he would come out the other end. He lost his business, marriage, and many of his friendships. His biggest regret is that he wasn’t the present, engaged father that his three daughters deserved or that he wanted to be.
Through his journey, Greg’s motto became “comfort is the enemy of progress.” While the price of recovery has been steep, Greg’s resilience continues to inspire those around him.
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Fighting for Accountability
Michigan has taken steps to extend the statute of limitations for civil accusations against sexual abusers, but for Greg, his abuse still falls outside the window. However, his testimony, along with others, forced the church to conduct an internal investigation. This led to the acknowledgement of credible allegations of sexual abuse against Father Lawrence Ventline, one of Greg’s abusers.
Due to the Michigan statute of limitations for these kinds of civil cases, officials did not file criminal charges against Ventline. The Bishop Accountability database shares that the church stripped Lawrence M. Ventline of his title prior to 2020. Additionally, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs revoked his professional education limited counseling license.
In a statement, Greg D’Alessandro reported that, following his own allegations, Ventline went on to expose himself in public, resulting in his arrest. He submitted a nolo plea and was sentenced to a brief jail sentence with no further consequences. There’s evidence that Ventline may reside near a Catholic school and he is not currently on the sex offender registry.
Our Commitment to Survivors of Clergy Abuse
Greg’s story is not unlike those of other clergy abuse survivors. In one of his statements, he says that he suspected Ventline previously abused children, and though the church sent him to rehab, they put him back in a position allowing nearly open access to more. Unfortunately, incidents of an abusive clergy member simply being transferred are not unheard of and something that we, as a firm, find to be particularly abhorrent.
At White Law PLLC, we are familiar with many of the challenges clergy abuse survivors face. In a 2021 article regarding disclosure of sexual abuse, the research tells us that it takes an average of 18 years for survivors to disclose their abuse, and as many as 27% never do. Current legislation does little to consider this, and we will continue to advocate for those seeking closure.
Our firm believes in holding institutions and individuals accountable for sexual abuse and advocating for change to prevent future harm. The nearly sacred status of a priest or other clergy member makes this kind of violation that much more loathsome, and the lack of legal accountability for these abusers is something we will continue fighting to change.
This is one of the reasons we maintain a list of Michigan priests accused of sexual abuse to promote transparency and encourage others who have experienced abuse to come forward.
White Law PLLC Will Fight for You
The lasting effects of sexual abuse can alter the trajectory of your entire life. The decision of how to proceed in your healing journey is profoundly personal, and if you choose legal recourse, our clergy abuse lawyer will fight for your rights to be heard and seek justice.
Our decades of experience in handling sexual abuse cases provides us with a deep understanding of the challenges survivors face and the support they need.
The church, local communities, and society are not always kind or understanding to those who decide to speak out about their experience of abuse. If you leave this page with one takeaway, we want it to be that you are in no way to blame for what you were forced to endure.
The only person who should hold any amount of blame or shame for your abuse is the person who perpetuated it, and when you are ready, you can call us to explore your legal options and take the next steps in holding them accountable.
You have the right to reach out to
a clergy sex abuse attorney and
discuss your right to legal action.
